His company Home Solutions specializes in single family rental homes in the Newburgh, Taylor Boulevard and far West End neighborhood. Since the start of the pandemic, he has experienced issues unique to his career, but not all have been bad problems. 

All 200 of his units are rented out. 

“I think a lot of people think, 'Look how much money he's making, look how much they're charging.' It costs a lot to keep building up,” German said. 

One of the most significant changes that has occurred over the pandemic is a hike in costs of materials, he said. 

“I've done a couple of renovation projects, and while I could sell I got one of those closing tomorrow,” German added. “Great little house in the south end, it's probably selling for 20 grand more than I would have thought. I've also probably spent 20 grand more than I would have thought.” 

Even smaller things are hurting his pockets more than they have in the past. 

“Paint has been a nightmare,” German said. “You want to get one that you can just touch up and if you can’t you have to repaint the entire apartment it could be pretty expensive.”

That was almost the only option when his paint supplier of the two shades used in all of the units was affected by plant shutdowns . 

“If they tell me that my paint came in, we have actually gone to 3 or 4 different stores and bought 20 gallons here and 20 gallons here, and the price of paint has also, you know, significantly gone up,” German said. 

Getting his hands on dishwashers and parts for air conditioners has been another challenge, so he’s spending more stocking up on appliances when they become available.  

“I used to be able to go into Lowe's and they could get to me in seven days. A tenant can go seven days, but now this washer and dryer, a lot of cases is two or three months to be able to get,” German said.

He said he's now spending $150 more for the same dryer he’s bought in the past. 

“I used to pay about $125 for a window. Now they're about 170,” German said. 

When everyone was sheltering in place, utility costs, plumbing issues and wear and tear increased and so did the materials needed to make repairs.

“You may not think about water, but all of a sudden, so many of my tenants are working at home,” German said. “We actually saw a pretty significant $10-15 a month increases a month per unit in water."

Part of his net has paused. German accepted government assistance from tenants which came with an agreement to not start an eviction for nonpayment for a set amount of time.

“I do have one tenant, unfortunately, who were past the period where the government paid their rent. They have not paid their rent, and I can't do anything,” German said. 

That could be a bigger issue for mom and pop landlords. 

“For the really small landlord who maybe is in that two or three month period where they're not getting rent, and they can't really go out and buy in bulk. It's a problem,” he said. 

The landlord who doubles as a realtor said those buying and selling are getting stuck in rentals. 

“You are seeing a lot of people sell their house, not able to find something and so they're moving into apartments,” German said. 

German believes the shortage is caused by seniors choosing to stay in their house instead of moving to retirement homes this past year. Other factors include the pause on foreclosures and the lack of fixer uppers.

“A: because people can't get them, and B: because the numbers don't make sense. But that provides a lot of people, new first time homebuyers, houses,” German said. 

“I’ll be glad when the real estate market returns to a little bit of balance, where those people who are living in my apartments who would like to buy a home, are able to find one,” German said.

The realtor said he’s not sure when that might happen.